German camera manufacturer Leica has added another rangefinder body to its M system that has a pared-down feature set, an extra quiet shutter unit and a lower price than the M Typ 240. The new Leica M Typ 262 is very much the same as the other M bodies, but does not offer video or live view shooting, even though it uses a 24MP CMOS sensor. Leica has used the button space on the rear of the camera that is used for live view in the Typ 240 to add direct access to the white balance feature.

The company says that the new shutter unit is barely audible and the shutter cocking mechanism is 'considerably quieter' than the system used in previous models. In single shot mode the new mechanism allows up to two frames to be recorded in a second, while the drive mode allows up to three frames per second, as before.

Instead of a brass top plate the Typ 262 uses aluminum, which makes the camera around 100g lighter than the Typ 240. Leica says one of benefits of not offering video and live view is that the menu system is much simpler and consists of only two pages. The camera may offer the same full-frame 24MP sensor that is used in the M Typ 240 and the M-P, and seems unlikely to be the sensor used in the more recent Leica Q and SL.

At $5195/£4050 the Typ 262 is offered as the least expensive of the M bodies, and is available immediately. For more information visit the Leica website.

Press release:

Focusing on the essentials of M rangefinder photography

Leica Camera has introduced the Leica M (Typ 262) into its digital rangefinder camera range, joining the Leica M and M-P (Typ 240) and the Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246), now giving photographers the choice of four models.

Incorporating rangefinder technology perfected over many decades, the new M (Typ 262) represents Leica M photography in its purest form, concentrating on the most essential features, combined with intuitive handling and discreet styling. This allows users to focus on the fascination of M photography and, ultimately, on capturing the decisive moment.

As with the other digital M cameras, the Leica M (Typ 262) features a high-resolution CMOS full-frame sensor, designed exclusively for rangefinder photography, but excludes video recording and Live View. The 24-megapixel sensor delivers exceptional image quality and extreme sensitivity, and makes the Leica M (Typ 262) the ideal camera for photography in available light situations. At the same time, the camera’s Maestro processor guarantees fast processing of captured images, ensuring that it is immediately ready to shoot.

The clear and practical outer design of the Leica M (Typ 262) also focuses on the essentials. The top plate is made from durable aluminium, making the camera around 100g lighter, and even more ergonomic than its sister models. The words ’Made in Germany’ are engraved on the back of the camera. Further differences include a smaller Leica logo and a ‘step’ at the end of the top plate, which are both features reminiscent of the design of the Leica M9.

For maximum discretion when shooting, the Leica M (Typ 262) shutter is barely audible – an invaluable advantage in situations where the photographer needs to remain unobtrusive. As an aid to this, the camera features a shutter cocking system that is considerably quieter in single exposure mode than that of the M (Typ 240), and enables a shutter release frequency of up to two frames per second. In continuous mode, the M (Typ 262) has the same sequential shooting speed as its sister model and shoots up to three frames per second.

The handling of the Leica M (Typ 262) fulfills everything a discerning photographer expects from a Leica M. This includes the rapid manual focusing process with the coupled rangefinder and the focusing ring of the lens, as well as the option of selecting automatically determined or manually set shutter speeds. Furthermore, as this model does not include Live View or video recording, the menu is extremely straightforward and consists of only two pages. This ensures that all settings are rapidly accessible at all times. White balance is selected by a dedicated button on the back of the camera.

Comments

Most comments seem to be coming from people who seemingly haven't handled a Leica ever in life. However, nothing wrong with that, but try and rent one and then decide. For all initiated and uninitiated ones, I took the plunge and went and bought a Leica M262 with 4 lenses - 28, 35, 50 and 75mm. I have always been a Canon/Nikon guy and it was a huge plunge. First few days were bad and I missed all the automation that Canikons offered. At one stage I got so frustrated that I went and listed it on eBay. Then one day I decided to give it a good shot. I realised it's basically a street photography camera and excellent at that. It's poor indoors and focusing with range finder is almost impossible in low light for someone with poor eyesight as mine. It's basically and outdoor camera and shines at that. Diminutive in streets, results are different, can't describe in words but they are just different. Can't compare sharp almost perfect pictures of Canon or Nikon with those with Leica. I wonder if I can call it somewhat akin to Lomography. Let me be brutal and honest. It's not for everyone, it's basically not for shooting parties or travel camera. It's more for making pictures which have a different kind of appeal. It's an unforgiving piece of equipment and it takes time to master it even if you have been shooting in manual mode on Canons and Nikons. After using Canons and Nikons this seems like dark ages but offers more creativity and pls forget any automation. It just has 3 menus with limited choices unlike plethora of choices on DSLRs. There is no choice of even metering and focus modes. This is in brief my experience for all members here.

Also for uninitiated it's a whoppingly expensive proposition, body is only part of the deal, Leica lenses are very expensive starting from somewhat cheaper ($1500-2,000) Summarit to Summicron to Most expensive Summilux range ($3,000 +). So it's better to rent before you buy, it's not everyone's cup of tea so don't waste in excess of $12,000 before trying out for a week atleast.

How does it increase creativity? By being hard to focus? I have astigmatism and am near sighted and always thought focusing was the hardest part of photography. Maybe it's fun to get a good snap when it is difficult.

Rangefinders are not difficult to focus on the whole, they are difficult only if you have a mismatch with the body and lend (which is another story)... However there are key benefits like speed of focus, seeing outside the frame, zone focus etc. Plus the Leica is an exceptional camera, its precision at its best, its extremely fun to use and it holds a relative value compared to most cameras...

This is without a doubt the most interesting digital M body Leica has made yet. True to roots but much more capable in the image quality category. The quietness, size, and weight and handling all add to its appeal as well.

I have sigma merrill DP1 and DP2 and DP3 and they all have cost me less than 1/3 of the price of Leica ! Quality wise I think they all produce even better pictures than Leica. Just visit this site and tell me that I'm wrong ;) http://sigma-dp.com/DP2Merrill/samplephoto.html

Yes , for street photography Sigma is not the best choice, although I'm still able to take very good shots with my DP1...and as for the buffer , well I actually like the fact that camera is slowing me down , the same goes with poor battery life ! At least it forces me to THINK before taking pictures instead "filming" everything and coming home with thousands of photos. Sometimes less is more. When it comes to lenses , even the best lenses won't do much if the sensor is producing moire and blurring. That's why I'd rather have "poor" sigma lenses but absolutely superior sensor.

The lenses on the Sigma DP2 and DP3 are absolutely top notch, perfectly matched with the sensor, and because they're permanently attached to the camera there is no issue with any dust getting inside. Plus they all have leaf shutters which basically are vibration free not to mention they are extremely quiet ...plus You can use the flash regardless of shutter speed ! PS But of course these cameras are not the worthy contenders for the DPreview since they don't have the kitchen sink and don't wear a tutu ;)

RAW: I like the M form factor and I can live without live view, so I guess this could be the option if someday I upgrade my trusty M8, which by the way still works like new... I am pretty sure the SL deliver amazing IQ but for family casual shots is simply too much of everything: Size, weight and bucks.

Glad to see that Leica switched from a brass to aluminum for their top plate. Brass is really heavy. I always thought that Leica M's could/should be a lot lighter than they were. So shedding 100g by switching from a brass top plate to an aluminum top plate is definitely a good thing, IMHO. Modern high-grade aluminum is plenty strong. Not that I'm going to buy one any time soon. But if I did have the money to buy one, I would definitely appreciate the lighter weight.

Agreed with almost everything you said...fortunately (or unfortuantely depending on your level of skill and vison) how beautiful and perfect a camera is has nothing to do with how good the images will be

Good on Nikon for leading the way with the DF, great to see Leica having the common sense to follow. Now if Nikon can build the mythical D400 without video and keep the price down, I would have all my previous faith in them validated.

Nikon released the DF a couple of years ago, a premium full frame SLR that has no video function. Its price while not inconsiderable was far less than its video capable counterpart the D4. If Nikon were to build a D400 (APS size sensor professional SLR) without video and keep the price low, I would be impressed. Impressed for two reasons, firstly that they can look after the customers waiting for a pro APS SLR and secondly that the could offer another SLR sans video.

The Df had a couple of features that were used to sell it, retro styling, simplicity IE lack of video, ease of use, lightness as well as your mentioned compatibility with older Nikkor lenses. I applaud Leica for not having a video function and can only hope that other companies see fit to do the same in the future. Looks like Ken R scored twice this week with Reuters demanding JPGs as well as this move from Leica.

I wish my fellow dslr users would relax about Leica. Leica cameras are exotics. Exotics are products that are more expensive and more specialized than mainstream ones. They exist because some people want them.

Leicas are within my budget, but I don't have the need for them. I did buy the 55mm Otus just to have the experience it provides. The lens has taught me things about photography, but it is not practical for most things. My inexpensive 1.8G primes and, of course, various zooms are much more useful. But it gives me pleasure to have a lens that is totally impractical and, occasionally, give me results different from what my excellent Nikon equipment can provide. That's what exotics do, give a different experience. The difference can help educate us. They can, rarely, fit us like a glove. They can provide psychological satisfaction. They take nothing away from any other equipment or anyone else's creative experience.

fad, some of us dslr users are indeed relaxed..we look at Leica as we look at a restored premium vintage cars, with interest & admiration, often with fleeting feelings of desire wondering what they would be like to drive and how cool it would be to own one, admiring that 1% of peoeple that have the privilege to own one (or more) but then we move on, back to our modern, safe and comfortable cars and then we forget all about them...

Thinking about the Otus, I have the 5D mk III and a few lenses and my Otus moment was when I purchased the 50mm f/1.2L, it was the first lens where I'd have to gain experience to use properly. main problem was that it could be out of focus but know the DOF is razor thin, it's not exactly a point and shoot

None that I can find. If you read the company description of the M/M (240) they describe the sealing (in marketing speak). However the descriptions of the M262 and the Monochrom leave that paragraph out. A few "preview" reviews have suggested this does not have the rubber seals. (I don't get it, the moisture and dust seals don't need to be there since the plates aren't brass? Or they just didn't want to seal it?)

Price fairness isn't the issue. People in Germany make more and work fewer hours than people in China. OTOH, while M cameras were always relatively expensive, the film cameras introduced inn the 1950s were still capable of producing identical results to the most recent M cameras. Not so with digital.

ok so a camera with shutter and mirror mechanism that operates at multiple frames a second reliably and accurately for hundreds of thousands of exposures focusing a lens accurately in split seconds and determining exposure as well etc etc is not a quality product?

Just because its made by hand (some of it) and from metal does not mean its better quality than high grade plastics and robot made.....its just different.

Its very very cool that Leica exists but there is this general attitude that the Leica camera is superior altogether...I see no evidence of that....

What HaR said. It's very similar to comparing a high-end TAG Heuer mechanical watch to a good Casio. The hand-workmanship , and materials, justify a far higher price (not that their better) but the Casio will be more accurate. The Heuer will last longer...with a lot of CAL maintenance. Some folks love the old-school clockwork gears and stuff. I've moved on.I'd love a Leica lens or two, but they are too dear for the marginal improvement over what I have.

HAR, Agreed that Leica lenses at their best, is the best. So it would seem to be with the Zeiss/Otus lenses.

But if one thinks about it for a moment, if money is no object then one can (or should) make the best...

The real trick is to make the best within a tight budget and here it would seem that there are many of those superb but 'cheap' lenses about...think 'art' or 'L' etc

Unfortuantely I have read many reviews where the Leica lenses are just average....the thing is that I would have thought when you buy Leica, you don't get average. Even the vaulted noctilux seems to be inferior to the slr magic hyperprime according to Photozone...(but please don't shoot the messenger!)

Personally I really like the fact that Leica still exists and can still make the type of cameras they do and cameras like the SL seems to point the way in what CAN be done....

The Samsung sounds very good.Professionally size has never bothered me and most of the time my camera is on a tripod anyway..personally I like compact and my favorite kit is a dslr body with 40mm pancake...I hardly ever shoot wide open so f2.8 suits me fine as it lives between f4 and f8....and I use this almost 90% of the time for my personal work...so my needs are fairly modest. Maybe a 35mm with IS will be something I might explore in the future...but if it works why change?

its not the leica camera that is superior...its the leica photographer. almost...all photog that reaches a certain level of guru and yoda level will get a leica, if not just to fuel their insane thirst for inspiration and becoming one with the tool.

"lost cause", like insisting that you actually look at what Leica lenses can do if you want to be treated seriously? That's a lost cause, since all you do is spout off about how that's not possible--or about how it's something easy to match.

PeaceKeeper, lost the argument by pretending that my points about this new M body had anything to do with defending the high price of Leica gear.

actually HR I used that method quite a lot in the days of 4x5 film which was just a mere 11 years ago for me....and a mechanical watch because it was easier to count the start and end of a long exposure...digital watches jumped from second to second so was a bit useless for me.... nowadays of course one doesn't really need a watch anymore....today its often mere male jewelry as is cameras sometimes..and cars and clothing and shoes etc

HAR yes of course, who would think one can take off and replace a lens cap in 1/250th of a second? and yes of course a tripod, how else does one use a 4x5 view camera?

I was just trying to explain that I used that technique many times for various reasons but mainly when the camera had to be absolutely still with no shutter induced vibrations, and only about 11 years or so ago...and it was quite a common technique at the time...

Finally, I think Leica is doing something right, making photography simple. I personally don't want to pay for things I don't need or use (video & live view). I think camera makers should follow Leica's foot step and separate videos from still photos.

I really do not get it why so many are bashing the product which they do not use or want to use for whatever reason. My friend has Canon D7 MarkII he just points and clicks and he likes the experience. I used to use Fuji 100 good camera (point and click) not very satisfactory and sometimes I would get out of focus shots with auto focus, manual is unusable. So when the time came to get a new camera I had very simple requirements not too big small lenses and FF and I wanted a manual focus and simple controls... m240 fits perfectly. It is very well made I actually was pleasantly surprised how solid the body feels the mechanics are precise and smooth. Best of all I enjoy using it and it is very satisfactory to learn range finder. If you do not like it just do not buy it vote with your wallets.Cheers

This is the camera I would have bought if Leica did make this earlier. But I bought the M two years back. Never used the video or live view. Weight and body size is a bit heavy compared to the M6/7 therefore 100g less might make some difference. So definitely a step in the right direction for leica.

For all the people complaining about the price, leica cameras were always expensive. The M7 was around 5000-6000 when it came out 10 years back or so.

Film Leicas were good forever, when better films became available you just started using those. Digital cameras become quite worthless in a few years, as the technology advances, Leica or not.

The whole paradigm of "resale value" has changed. One could keep shooting a film era Leica or Nikon F for decades, and quality would be the best possible. Now try to sell photos taken with a 10 year old digital camera...

actually I still have my eos20, still works perfectly..gave it to my daughter and still occasionally use it as a bird camera with a long zoom...the build quality of the camera is actually quite astounding for a modern digital consumer product that's 11 years old now...couldn't say the same of my Leica X1 that was a dust trap of note - to clean the sensor I had to send it to Germany - and flash broke, all within 2years..quite disappointing for a camera that cost 2x the price of the 20d...

While indeed my M6 works perfectly fine after this many years, and still takes all new leica M lenses, the fact is: Photographic film has become extremely expensive. The film I like(d) to use costs around 40$ per roll plus another 40$ for development, that is like 2.20 per picture. If I fill my 16 GB SD card with pictures, I end up with about 800 to 1600 pictues until the card is full. That would mean to pay 1'760 to 3'520$ every time I fill my sd card....

How long will it take to someone to hack the M262 firmware and reassign Liveview function to the WB button ?A bit hard to swallow that Leica can lower the price by 2000usd with the same camera...(or worse...a better one: weight/shutter) with just a crippled firmware O_O

Another week another new Leica, they're really pumping them out lately ! Anyway the loss LV and video recording capabilities in such a camera is perfectly acceptable for a reduction in purchase price, and the more refined shutter is a desirable bonus. But I don't like the replacement of the brass top-plate with an aluminum version. I think that's a step to far for such a traditional (and tank-like) camera. M's should have brass top and bottom plates!

You make it sound like it's made out of aluminum foil.I'm sure it's made out of aircraft grade material, and probarbly just as strong as the brass version top.Only if the paint rubbs of it might be a bit ugly?

I do not disagree, but 28mm is (or perhaps was) the most-popular reportage and documentary lens FOV not too long ago, and like all trends, it may "come back" into favor. Oddly enough, I sense a backlash coming to the "OMG BOKEH" crowd too. Not that I dislike shallow DOF from normal to tele lenses. We'll see. Most all cameras made these days are damn good anyway.

really? you can take (good) pictures even with lowly DSLR such as D3300 and a nice DX prime lens. Don't use all the features if you don't need them. You should have said, I'm sick of spec. overkill and just wan an underspec overpriced camera to take pictures.

Yes- that's it. I don't know all the stuff on my D800 and on my x100s - and always wonder if I have everything set up to get the best result. I don't feel this need to be. The price of the leica is a other story.

Come on, this is not a crippled M240, this is the new M line strategy.

Before the appearance of the SL, Leica had only the M to try to fulfill the requirements of all the photographers that wanted LV and video and whatever... Now, they have the SL for that.

Want a rangefinder, get a M262 and go take pictures.Want a body that does all the rest and more, get an SL.

It is an clever move: it simplifies the M line... and it forces people to buy a SL on top if they want to do more than pure RF photo: where you could buy a M240 for 6000, now you will have to buy a M262 for 5000 and an SL for 7000!

I think it forces people to start thinking and buy a camera like Nikon or Sony. One should be really stupid at this stage to buy Leica. This 5200$ camera will be obsolete before the the end of 2016.......

Nobody who's interested in this camera cares about obsolescence. This camera is "obsolete" before it's even released. This is for people who are interested in taking still photos with a digital rangefinder, period.

in the "digital"world,anything and everything is obsolete before it hits the shelves.It's a continual rat race to spend more and buy something else that has some some new gimmick. This is a back to the basics camera for taking photos (using digital means) without all the extraneous doodads.

Leica M6 released 1984Leica M7 released 2002 (ok there is M6 TTL in 1998)

18 years per model that costed quite a bit.

M8 - 2006M9 - 2009M240 - 2012M-P - 2014M Typ 262 2015

This is a joke....same as the stupid SL. Leica is just shelling out obsoleted garbage like Hasselblad....surely they put a good viewfinder or some other gimmick but if they are to replace models every year price should be at most a third of what they currently ask. The quality is nowhere near their old Leica products and despite the aluminum shell it is exactly as good as a Sony, Canon, Panasonic or Nikon camera if not worse

@Ken: you can criticise any brand you want. Leica deserves it as much as anyone. But criticising with straw man arguments is silly. If your goal is: tech only and tech for tech's sake, why even post in a Leica M thread? Aim ire at the SL.

The M isn't and never will be that camera.

The M can and will never, ever be sold for 1/3 of its current price. That is stupid. No one could make an M with the same quality of build and attention to detail for that price. I'm sure you can make it cheaper. But so what? Your A7 could be cheaper, too.

Every camera can. But why don't we criticise other brands from the same angle? Because we accept the mass market and not the niche.

Massive oversimplification of Leica based on personal biases is silly. There are MANY places where Leica can and should be criticised. It would be nice if people that hurl whatever they can at Leica, would do so from a position of knowledge rather than wild guesses and flagrant ignorance.

I personally own an M9 and it is an absolute pleasure to shoot with. IMHO the image quality and color rendition is superior to M240. But this is all personal preference. I don't get why people bash the Leica brand. Obviously it is not for everyone. One thing for sure it forces you to slow down not just point and shoot. The results that I have gotten with my Leica I could never duplicate with my old D800.

Back in the day they had the M3, M2 and M1 that came out only years apart. Leica started with digital pretty late and is, just like the competition, looking for the best way to build a digital version of a proven concept.And even with 6 or 7 models in 10 years, they are still far behind Canon, Nikon or Sony: they bring you a new miracle body every six months or so.

I just wanted to preceed to ridicule this camera by suggesting to limit the metering mode to center weighted. But a quick look to the specs table told me that the reality is ahead my imagination once again.

Seriously? Do you plug your camera into your computer to download files? And I think you'll see: with an M, there's no easy access anyway. I doubt anyone with an M hooks their computer up to their camera.

If you don't know Leica, talking unrelated spec is beyond silly. Certain spec is important to the design, but USB is NOT.

You serious? Fujifilm and Canon and Nikon do the same for their parts that are made in Japan. Companies all over the globe do this to show where their parts were built or assembled. It's part and parcel of marketing as well as ownership and has been for hundreds of years.

@justsomeone: I think you'll find that most of what you use, no matter where it says it is made, is put together from a bunch of parts from all over the world. An audio company I work with that prides themselves in their MADE IN JAPAN badge use internals from China and the USA, and their titanium horn ports are sourced from Italy.

The day you se a the kinematics of viewfinder mechanism and know that this mechanism is your insurrance for focussing you understand why manufacturers rather will use some digitaltricks in electronic viewfinders. You will get the same answer on the question: Why most watch manufactureres abbadoned the purely mechanical watch mechanism.

@Mike FL -- none of those cameras were rangefinders. They had NOTHING to do with rangefinders. "Flat" is not a rangefinder. I might as well say that my Camry is just like a Porsche because it has a steering wheel.

@onlooker. Re: shutter speed. Yes, top speed was probably 1000. So were most cameras of the time. I never had one. I saved and saved for it, but the price kept going up until it became the Leica CL, and was permanently out of my reach.

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